Rail-joint.



W. N. SPIKES.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1911.

1,033,632. Patented July 23,1912.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAFH 90., WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WOODABD N. SPIKES, OF WINNFIELD, LOUISIANA RAIL-JOINT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVooDARn N. SrIKEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winnfield, in the parish of Winn and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail joints, and has for its object to construct a device of this character with simple and efficient means for preventing independent lateral movement of the rails, but at the same time allowing for the usual expansion and contraction of the rails due to changes in temperature.

A further object of the invention is to produce a rail joint so constructed that the usual splice bars are eliminated.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claim, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing portions of the meeting ends of a pair of rails, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, Fig. 3 is a trans-- verse sectional View on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 1 designates one of the rails being provided with the usual head 2, and web 3. The head 2 and web 3 terminate in a thickened portion 4 having a shoulder 5. Leading from the shoulder 5, is an extension 6, said extension being provided at its outer end with a vertically disposed V-shaped groove 7. The extension is further provided with a pair of spaced sockets 8 and 9, each of said sockets being rectangular in cross section. A channel 10 is formed in the extension 6, and opens into the socket 8, the flanges 11, forming said channel being spaced a short distance from the shoulder 5, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. The other rail is also provided with a head 12 and web 13, both of which terminate in a thickened portion 14. The head 12 of this rail section terminates in an extension 15 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 7, 1911.

Patented July 23, .1912.

Serial No. 658,933.

which overhangs the extension 6 of the other rail section and is substantially of the same length. Formed integral with the extension 15 is a pair of lugs 17 and 18, said lugs being arranged in spaced relation and are adapted to fit within the sockets 8 and 9 formed in the extension 6 of the other rail section. The lugs 17 and 18 are slightly less in longitudinal diameter than the sockets 8 and 9 to allow relative movement of the rail section when expanding or contracting during climatic changes.

The extreme outer end of the overhanging extension 15 is provided with a downwardly extended projection 19, which is adapted to seat in the space formed between the shoulder 5 and flanges 11 of the adj acent rail section. The extension 15 is further provided with a rib 20, said rib being formed between the lug 17 and projection 19 and is adapted to rest within the channel 10 formed in the extension 6, the same being permitted to slide freely in said channel, during the expansion and contraction of the rail sections. By providing the overhanging extension 15 a shoulder 21 is produced, said shoulder being provided with a vertically disposed tongue 22, each side of which is beveled so as to readily engage the V shaped groove 7 in the opposing rail section, said tongue acting, during the contraction of the rail sections to positively aline the heads of the rail sections. Each rail section is formed with the usual flanged base 22, the opposite sides of each being provided with notches for receiving spikes for securing the sections to the ties.

From this construction it will be seen that the rail heads have their upper surfaces arranged upon the same plane, thereby eliminating the usual pounding to the wheels of locomotives and cars during their travel thereover.

What is claimed is:-

The combination with the meeting ends of a pair of rails one of which is provided with a shoulder and an extension leading from said shoulder, said extension having its extreme outer end provided with a V shaped vertically disposed groove, a pair of spaced sockets formed in said extension, a channel opening into one of the sockets, the other rail being provided with an extension which overhangs the extension of the opposing rail, a pair of lugs carried by the over hanging extension and adapted to fit in said being adagted to engage the V shaped 10 sockets, a pro ection formed on the oven groove 1n the first mentioned extension.

hanging extension at its extreme outer end, In testimony whereof I affix my signa- {L rib formed connectlng the pro ect1on and ture, 1n the presence of two Witnesses.

5 one of the lugs, said rib being adapted to DARD PI E rest in said channel, a shoulder formed at W700 s K the base of the overhanging extension, 21- lVltnesses: tongue formed upon SL1Cl shoulder, the sldes H. C. BAZAL, of said tongue being beveled, said tongue W. T. COLLINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

